Tim Guest talks about his book, “My Life in Orange.” He begins by explaining that he spent his childhood with his parents living in a commune. He talks about how his mother was devoutly religious but decided she wanted a more mystical...
Japan - Social life and customs - Fiction; China - Social life and customs - Fiction
Mary Yukari Waters discusses her book, “The Laws of Evening.” She begins by explaining that her book is a compilation of short stories about Japan before the attacks on Pearl Harbor. She talks about how she immigrated to the United States...
Witches - Fiction;
Young women - Fiction;
Paris (France) - History - Louis XIV, 1643-1715 - Fiction
Judith Merkle Riley discusses her novel, “The Oracle Glass.” She begins by explaining that her book is about a network of women in the 17th century who relied on their oracle powers to tell people’s futures. She discusses her job as a...
Academy Awards (Motion pictures) - Fiction; Motion picture industry - Fiction
Mary McNamara discusses her book, “Oscar Season.” She begins by explaining the plot of the novel, which follows the story of Juliet who is the assistant manager of the Pinnacle Hotel, where all the movie stars visit during Oscar season. Things...
Sacks, Oliver W. - Travel - Mexico; Ferns - Mexico; Oaxaca (Mexico : State) - Description and travel
Oliver Sacks discusses his book, “Oaxaca Journal.” He describes his trip to Oaxaca, Mexico with the American Fern Society and his visit to old ruins. Sacks shows a horsetail, a fern ally and primitive form of fern, he found. He talks about...
Irish Americans - Biography; New York (N.Y.) - Biography
Frank McCourt discusses his book, "'Tis." He shares the story of a bartender who encouraged him to visit the library on 42nd Street in New York, New York to read works by Samuel Johnson. McCourt describes his time in the army and later at New...
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968; African Americans - Civil rights; Civil rights movements - United States - History - 20th century; United States - History - 1953-1961
Taylor Branch discusses his book, “Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954-63.” Branch and Martinson begin by talking about King’s name change from Michael to Martin Luther after his father’s visit to Europe. Branch then goes...
Jews - Persecutions - Soviet Union - Fiction; Soviet Union - History - 1925-1953 - Fiction
Elie Wiesel discusses his book, “The Testament.” He begins by saying that both Fascism and Communism deny the value of man in the name of an abstract humanity that will never occur, that will never take shape. Because of this, cruelties were...
Ball family; Plantation life - South Carolina - Charleston Region - History; Slaves - South Carolina - Charleston Region - History; Slaveholders - South Carolina - Charleston Region - History; African Americans - South Carolina - Charleston Region...
Edward Ball discusses is book, “Slaves in the Family.” The book covers the history of the Ball family and its plantation and slave ownership. Ball talks about a slave uprising and says that following emancipation, the Ball family became...
Guevara, Ernesto, 1928-1967 - Fiction; Cuban American women - Fiction; Illegitimate children - Fiction; Mothers and daughters - Fiction; Americans - Cuba - Fiction; Revolutionaries - Fiction; Women - Cuba - Fiction; Birthmothers - Fiction; Miami...
Ana Menéndez discusses her novel, “Loving Che.” She begins by describing the use of photography in her book to give the story a non-fiction quality. She explains that “Loving Che” is about a young girl in Miami who wants to get to know...
Social work with children - Case studies; Hospital patients - Services for - Case studies; Sick children - Case studies; Charities; Social action; Humanitarianism; Voluntarism
Jeffrey W. Comment discusses his book, “Santa’s Gift.” He begins by providing information about his occupation as the chairman of The Berkshire Hathaway Corporation, which owns the company Helzberg Diamonds. The book is a collection of his...
Murder - California - Twentynine Palms - Case studies
Deanne Stillman discusses her book, “Twentynine Palms.” She begins by talking about the generational impact that poverty and violence has on individuals. Martinson asks Stillman to read a passage from the book about the Mojave Desert. ...
Actresses - Fiction; Older women - Fiction; Motion picture actors and actresses - Fiction; Private investigators - California - Los Angeles - Fiction
Ray Bradbury discusses his book, “Let’s All Kill Constance." He explains that the plot is set in 1960s Los Angeles and follows an unnamed writer who serves as the novel’s narrator. The mystery begins with a visit from an aging Hollywood...
Stalking - Fiction; Inheritance and succession - Fiction
Bradford Morrow discusses his novel, “Giovanni’s Gift.” He begins by explaining that the book is based on a real experience of a stalker harassing his aunt and uncle. He came out to visit them and while he was spending some time trying to...
National characteristics, Israeli; Israel - Social conditions; Israel - Ethnic relations; Orthodox Judaism - Relations - Nontraditional Jews
Donna Rosenthal discusses her book, “The Israelis.” She begins by explaining how she spent 5 years living in Israel and how she goes back frequently to visit. She discusses how she worked in television, radio, and did writing while she was...
